Luxury tour operator Kensington has just announced new and refreshed tours across Egypt, Italy, Ireland, the Rhine, and the Philippines for travelers seeking a warm winter escape.
The experiences range from a rail journey to an island escape to a new take on an iconic destination. And each can be further customized by Kensington’s Destination Experts, while also supported by private guides, drivers and local experts along the way.
“Travelers are looking for more than a list of places to see. They want the time and access to really experience a destination,” said Helen Giontsis, president of Kensington.
“These new journeys reflect that, whether it means spending a few days in the Tuscan countryside, discovering a different side of Egypt along the Mediterranean or escaping winter for the islands of the Philippines,” added Giontsis.
Here’s a closer look.
A Different Side of Egypt
Kensington’s new Cairo to Luxor & Coastal Alexandria journey goes beyond Egypt’s best-known ancient sites to show travelers the country from several perspectives.
In Cairo, a private Egyptologist leads visits to the Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx, while the Grand Egyptian Museum and an evening in Khan el Khalili bring travelers deeper into the capital. In Luxor, private exploration includes Karnak and Luxor temples, the Valley of the Kings and Queens, King Tutankhamun’s tomb and the rarely visited Tomb of Seti I.
The journey then heads north to Alexandria, adding an entirely different rhythm to the trip. Travelers stay along the Mediterranean and experience the city through a private sunset dinner cruise, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s Manuscript Museum and a walk along the Corniche followed by a visit to a local seafood market.
The result pairs Egypt’s essential ancient history with a coastal city that many first-time visitors never reach.
Italy, Best Experienced Slowly
Kensington’s Ultimate Italy & La Dolce Vita Train Journey makes the journey itself part of the experience. Beginning in Milan, travelers explore the city through its food, architecture and fashion, including the option to work with a personal shopper and meet Italian artisans.
From there, the pace changes in Tuscany, with time in Cortona and San Gimignano, a day at leisure for the spa and a stop at Avignonesi Winery and Montepulciano en route to Rome. The journey culminates aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express, traveling from Rome toward the Ligurian coast before time in Portofino and Venice. It is an itinerary built around lingering longer, with wine, food, craftsmanship and rail travel providing the thread through several very different sides of Italy.
Taking the Scenic Route Along the Rhine
On the Rhine Discovery with Castle Stay travelers will experience four nights of river cruising along with time on land beginning in Dusseldorf with stops in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dordrecht, and Nijmegen before continuing to Oberwesel in German’s Rhine Gorge. There, travelers stay in Castle Hotel Auf Schoenberg, a resorted hilltop castle surrounded by vineyards and views of the Rhine.
From Oberwesel, a day on the river passes the legendary Lorelei rock and the castles and villages of the Rhine before arriving in Rudesheim, where travelers can explore the historic Old Town, see its half-timbered houses and stop at one of the town’s traditional wine taverns. By pairing a river cruise with a castle stay and time to explore the Rhine Valley on land, the journey offers a deeper look at the region than travelers might experience from the river alone.
Ireland Beyond Dublin
The seven-day Ireland Highlights: Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher balances Ireland’s most recognizable sights with experiences that bring travelers closer to everyday life and local traditions. After exploring Dublin, including Trinity College and the Book of Kells, travelers head west through the Midlands and the sixth-century monastic site of Clonmacnoise to Galway.
From Galway, private excursions reach the Burren and Cliffs of Moher as well as Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands, where travelers explore by horse-drawn carriage with a local guide and encounter one of Ireland’s remaining Irish-speaking communities. A food-focused walk through Galway introduces another side of the city through local oysters, cheeses, markets and neighborhood favorites.
Winter Sun in the Philippines
For travelers already looking ahead to winter, Palawan’s Luxe Escape: El Nido to Coron pairs time in Manila with two of the Philippines’ most striking island destinations.
After exploring the historic districts of Intramuros and Binondo with a private guide, travelers fly to El Nido for a stay in a private pool villa on Pangulasian Island. Days can be as active or relaxed as guests choose, with private speedboat excursions through lagoons and islands, snorkeling and kayaking balanced by beach and spa time.
The journey continues to Coron for a private snorkeling excursion among coral reefs and historic World War II shipwrecks, followed by the chance to see the islands and turquoise waters of Busuanga from above on a private seaplane flight. With Kensington arranging the flights, boat transfers, accommodations and private experiences between islands, travelers can focus on the destination rather than logistics.
The latest journeys reflect Kensington’s approach to privately guided travel: starting with an idea and shaping it around the traveler. Itineraries can be adjusted for individual interests, preferred pacing and travel dates, with Destination Experts coordinating accommodations, guides, transportation and experiences from beginning to end.
For more information, visit www.kensingtontours.com or contact your travel advisor.
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